GENERAL PROBLEMS IN SWINE HUSBANDRY 607 



be prevented either by feeding yellow corn or by including 5 per ct. of 

 well-cured, green-colored alfalfa hay in the ration, and probably by using 

 hay from other legumes as well. The importance of legume hay for 

 brood sows and pigs as well is emphasized in the following chapters. 

 (1009-11, 1016) Without much question, the high value of legume hay 

 for swine not on pasture is due not only to its richness in protein and 

 calcium, but also to the fact that it is rich in the fat-soluble vitamine. 



In the northern states pigs often suffer from rickets during winter, 

 when they can not be on pasture. Animals thus affected become lame and 

 crippled, especially in the hind legs, and in severe cases become perma- 

 nently stunted or die. Rickets is a disease affecting the growing ends of 

 the bones, and may be caused by a lack of calcium or phosphorus in the 

 ration and also by the lack of a vitamine. As has been pointed out before, 

 investigations have not yet conclusively shown whether the vitamine 

 which prevents rickets is the fat-soluble vitamine or whether it is a fourth 

 vitamine, the anti-rachitic vitamine. (104) In any event, experiments 

 by Hart and Steenbock at the Wisconsin Station 11 show that legume 

 hay and cod liver oil, which are rich in the fat-soluble vitamine, will 

 usually cure rickets in pigs, if the case is not too far advanced. When- 

 ever there is any evidence of this trouble in swine, 15 to 25 per ct. of 

 choice legume hay should be included in the ration. In bad cases giving 

 a teaspoonful of cod liver oil a head daily will usually be beneficial. On 

 account of its value in preventing rickets, as well as its other beneficial 

 effects, it seems wise, during winter in the northern states, to supply 

 choice, leafy legume hay, preferably alfalfa, to brood sows and also fall 

 pigs. (1009-11, 1016, 1037) 



So far as is known, there is no necessity of paying any attention to the 

 amounts of the water-soluble vitamine or of the anti-scorbutic vitamine 

 in rations for swine. All ordinary rations contain plenty of the first, 

 and swine do not have scurvy, even if fed on rations which would cause 

 this disease if fed to humans, monkeys, or guinea pigs. (104) 



920. Grinding or soaking grain. Whether or not it pays to grind or 

 crush the various grains for swine is a matter of great economic im- 

 portance, and therefore naturally it has been given much careful atten- 

 tion by the experiment stations. As the following paragraphs show, the 

 numerous trials which have been carried on to study this matter prove 

 clearly that there is but little saving in feeding ground corn to swine in 

 place of ear corn or shelled corn. For pigs under 150 Ibs. in weight there 

 was no appreciable saving at all thru grinding corn. 



With the small grains, such as wheat, barley, oats, and the grain sor- 

 ghums, more of the grain passes thru the animal unmasticated. and there- 

 fore grinding or crushing pays, even for pigs under 150 Ibs. in weight. 

 In the following chapter the saving which results from grinding or crush- 

 ing the various grains is stated, so far as definite data are available. 

 Where the small grains can not be conveniently ground, they should be 



"Wis. Bui. 339, pp. 121-3; unpublished data. 



